South Korea 2 - 4 Algeria

In what was one of the most thrilling World Cup games so far Algeria and South Korea staged an entraining match ending in a 4-2 win for the African side.

Needless to say both of these teams came into this match needing a win, Algeria came in on the back of an unlucky 2-1 loss to Belgium and South Korea on the back of a 1-1 draw with Russia. If Algeria won this they knew they were likely to be battling it out in a winner takes runner up match against Russia as South Korea will be unlikely winners against Belgium. Which suggests as to why they came out the blocks firing.

In what started as a fairly even affair soon turned into a rout. On the 26th minute Islam Slimani of Sporting Lisbon kept his strength up to run through whilst he was being sandwiched to clip a smart volley past Jung Sung-Ryong. Less than two minutes later Rafik Halliche of A.A.C. – O.A.F powered a header past a flapping Jung. It was to be fair a terrible decision by the keeper.

10 minutes later Abdelmoumene Djabou of Club Africain completed a disastrous 12 minutes for South Korea, leaving them shell shocked.

At the interval South Korea seemed to gather themselves and after only five minutes pulled the score back to 3-1. Son Heung-min of Bayer Leverkuson turned his defender brilliantly to power his finish between Rais M’bohli’s legs.

South Korea started to look really up for it and Ki Sung-yueng let fly from out of the area forcing a wonder save from M’bohli. It seemed just as South Korea were just starting to find their feet and launch a comeback, it was crushed. Algeria went 4-1 up through Yacine Brahimi of Granada when he finished strongly.

Just went the game looked beyond doubt South Korea delivered another punch and another twist as Koo Ja-cheol of FSV Mainz 05 tapped in Lee Keun-ho’s cross along the six-yard-box.

Algeria seemed to compose themselves after this and despite more pushing from South Korea, kept the scoreline at 4-2.

South Korea play Belgium and will need to win by 5 goals whilst hoping Russia and Algeria draw. Algeria will know that a draw against Russia will be enough to see them through.

Statistics

South Korea

Algeria

Possession

51.5%

48.5%

Shots on target

Total shots

Team Lineups

South Korea

Jung Sung-Ryong

Yun Suk-Young

Kim Young-Gwon

Hong Jeong-Ho

Lee Yong

Lee Chung-Yong

Son Heung-Min

Koo Ja-Cheol

Ki Sung-Yueng

Han Kook-Young

Park Chu-Young

Substitutes

Ji Dong-Won

Kim Seung-Gyu

Lee Bum-Young

Kim Bo-Kyung

Kim Shin-Wook

Hwang Seok-Ho

Park Joo-Ho

Park Jong-Woo

Kim Chang-Soo

Ha Dae-Sung

Lee Keun-Ho

Kwak Tae-Hwi

Algeria

Rais M'Bolhi

Madjid Bougherra

Rafik Halliche

Djamel Mesbah

Aissa Mandi

Yacine Brahimi

Sofiane Feghouli

Abdelmoumene Djabou

Carl Medjani

Nabil Bentaleb

Islam Slimani

Substitutes

Essaïd Belkalem

Faouzi Ghoulam

Mehdi Lacen

Mehdi Mostefa

Nabil Ghilas

Cédric Si Mohamed

Saphir Taïder

Soudani

Riyad Mahrez

Liassine Cadamuro

Mohamed Zemmamouche

Hassan Yebda

Thomas Bristow

Tom is currently undertaking his masters in Digital Journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London, where he is learning the core values of news writing and excellent digital techniques to gather and back up stories.